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Tim Thomas stopped nine of 10 shots in his first game since April 2012 before the Lightning rallied to win in Estero, Fla.

Thomas signed a one-year contract before game time after playing with the Panthers during camp on a professional tryout. Jonathan Huberdeau, making his first preseason appearance, gave him a 2-0 lead with a pair of power-play goals before Tyler Johnson's goal at 8:27 of the second got the Lightning on the board. Thomas left the game shortly afterward.

"It felt good for being the first time in a game-like atmosphere for 15 months," Thomas told the Miami Herald. "I think it was a necessary step for me. I thought it was good not to wait. We're running out of preseason games. I feel ready now."

Ben Bishop went all the way and stopped 26 shots for Tampa Bay, which has won three times in overtime on the way to a 5-1-0 preseason mark. The teams meet again Saturday night in South Florida.

"We want to see who we have and who can contribute, and we are getting it from everybody, so it's been fun to watch," coach Jon Cooper said. "But this is the preseason and it gives us a chance to see what we have, and we like what we see. But let's be honest -- we've come on the positive side a lot in these games but you can make the argument we didn't outplay these teams. ... We've got a lot of work to do."

Schneider stopped all nine shots he faced on a night he wasn't even supposed to play. He got the call when Martin Brodeur left the team following the death of his father. Schneider, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on draft day, allowed one goal on 80 shots during 10 periods in the preseason.

"We knew he was a world-class goaltender when we traded for him," coach Peter DeBoer said. "His numbers in the preseason are, obviously, outstanding. I don't know I would have predicted that, but I think he's come as advertised. We knew he was very good and he is."

Keith Kinkaid finished up, allowing Matt Read's shorthanded goal in the third period and making three saves for the Devils, who finished the preseason 4-2-0 and are off until they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins next Thursday in their season-opener.

"We had a pretty good lineup tonight, and it's nice to go out with a win," Montreal captain Brian Gionta said one night after a lineup made up mostly of young players lost 5-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. "At the same time, there are still things that need to be improved."

Ottawa's Cory Conacher tapped home a loose puck 5:09 into the game to open the scoring. Alex Galchenyuk tied it late in the first by finishing off a three-way passing play with Lars Eller and Daniel Briere. Plekanec put the Canadiens ahead to stay when he roofed a shot from the left circle.

Nathan Gerbe scored his second goal of the game with 38 seconds left in regulation to give the Hurricanes a victory at Nationwide Arena.

Gerbe deked from forehand to backhand to easily beat Sergei Bobrovsky for the game-winner. He had tied the game at 18:04 of the second period when he came out of the corner and squeezed a shot past last season's Vezina Trophy winner.

"There wasn't a lot of intensity out there, for either side," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said after his team's preseason finale. "I think it was players knowing it was the last exhibition game, and wanting to get through it."

Carolina ends its preseason Friday night at home against the Buffalo Sabres. The Blue Jackets are idle until they open the season at home against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 4.

Lehtonen finished with 25 saves for the Stars, who complete their preseason against the Edmonton Oilers in Oklahoma City on Friday night.

"I think they got a good handle of how we want to play and you know that's important – we've got a big week ahead of us," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "Tonight was a good game to look at and take film from and just hammer home the small areas of the game."

Colorado completes its preseason schedule Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings in Las Vegas before the Avalanche open at home against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 2.

"Right from the beginning, Patrick's been very positive, trying to teach everybody his system and his way of things," Colorado defenseman Nick Holden said of new coach Patrick Roy. "I think it's been very good. The guys have been very receptive to it, and I think as time goes on here guys are going to get more comfortable with his system and things are only going to get better."

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Mobile name and logo, NHL GameCenter and Unlimited NHL are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.